What Are Signs of Elder Abuse?

Friends, family, and neighbors must be vigilant in watching for signs of elder abuse. If one is concerned that an elder person may be suffering abuse, one may call Adult Protective Services at 1-866-363-4276. The number for Adult Protective Services in King County is 1-866-221-4909. The number for Adult Protective Services in Snohomish County is 1-800-487-0416. The number for the long term care ombudsman, who can assist with problems with nursing homes, is, in King County, 206-623-0816, and in Snohomish County 800-560-0552.

Persons who are convicted of abusing an elder financially are deemed to have predeceased the elder, for purposes of inheritance from and benefits of the elder's estate. Abusers get nothing, under most circumstances. RCW 11.84.030.

It has been estimated that roughly two-thirds of those harming a vulnerable adult are family members, most often the victim’s adult child or spouse. Research has shown that in most instances the abuser is financially dependent on the vulnerable adult’s resources and have problems related to alcohol and drugs.

The word abuse covers many different ways someone may harm a vulnerable adult:

Mental mistreatment or emotional abuse is deliberately causing mental or emotional pain. Examples include intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity, use of silence to control behavior, and yelling or swearing which results in mental distress.

Exploitation occurs when a vulnerable adult or his/her resources or income are illegally or improperly used for another person's profit or gain. Examples include illegally withdrawing money out of another person’s account, forging checks, or stealing things out of the vulnerably adult’s house.

Neglect occurs when a person, either through his/her action or inaction, deprives a vulnerable adult of the care necessary to maintain the vulnerable adult’s physical or mental health. Examples include not providing basic items such as food, water, clothing, a safe place to live, medicine, or health care.

Self-neglect occurs when a vulnerable adult fails to provide adequately for themselves and jeopardizes his/her well-being. Examples include a vulnerable adult living in hazardous, unsafe, or unsanitary living conditions or not having enough food or water.

Abandonment occurs when a vulnerable adult is left without the ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter or health care. Examples include deserting a vulnerable adult in a public place or leaving a vulnerable adult at home without the means of getting basic life necessities.

Signs of physical abuse

• bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks
• broken bones
• open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
• broken eyeglasses/frames, or any physical signs of being punished or restrained
• laboratory findings of either an overdose or under dose medications
• individual's report being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
• vulnerable adult's sudden change in behavior
• the caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see a vulnerable adult alone

• sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money
• adding additional names on bank signature cards
• unauthorized withdrawal of funds using an ATM card
• abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
• unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
• bills unpaid despite the money being available to pay them
• forging a signature on financial transactions or for the titles of possessions
• sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to a vulnerable adult’s possessions
• unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family
• providing services that are not necessary
• individual's report of exploitation

Signs of abandonment

• deserting a vulnerable adult in a public place
• deserting a vulnerable adult in his/her own home or living space
• individual's report of being abandoned